COUNCIL chiefs have been branded scrooges after demanding £800 to maintain hanging baskets in Alderley Edge.

Alderley Edge parish councillors say the borough council request is a blooming disgrace.

They blamed the government for allegedly cutting Macclesfield Borough Council's budget - but alleged the council used an extravagant amount of workmen to put up baskets.

They refused to add the £800 to the parish tax - the precept - and dipped into a special reserve to safeguard next year's displays.

But next year, they will have to consider whether to fund the baskets in the long term - or look at others ways of adding colour to Alderley.

The borough council request for £800 contribution was discussed at the latest parish council meeting at Festival Hall.

Chairman Coun Frank Keegan said the borough's flower basket budget had been cut by 50 per cent last year.

But Coun Mike Williamson opposed the request, saying: "Oh no. We're not paying £800 of tax payers' money to have 14 hanging baskets. That's (the total cost) £1,600, which works out at over £100 per basket."

Coun Nigel Schofield claimed a team of eight men put up the baskets on lamp posts, and then four watered the through the season.

"It seems a bit extravagant. We would like to continue having the baskets but we don't think the parish council should pass on local ratepayers money to achieve that," he said.

But Coun Melanie Connor said: "I thought the floral displays were a disgrace. But if we don't do anything, we won't not have any flowers in the spring and summer."

She believed Cheshire County Council was investigating the safety condition of the lamp posts In Alderley Edge and said this might effect the hanging basket scheme in the long term.

"I think we should look at other schemes to improve flower displays in the village, such as planting flower beds," she added.

Regarding the cut in the flower basket budget, Coun Keegan said the overall increase in next year's borough council budget would be less than one per cent. And he blamed the government for the restrictions, because of how it was allocating money to local authorities.

Coun Williamson said: "The result is that to maintain the same level of services, it seems the only option is to increase the parish precept.

"However, for this year, I suggest we take the money from the village enhancement fund then look at something different (to fund the baskets) next year."